May 16, 2015
The Japanese Communist Party and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA) held a meeting on May 15 in Tokyo, confirming that they will cooperate to block the enactment of war legislation-related bills which the Abe government submitted to the Diet on the same day.
JFBA President Murakoshi Susumu explained about his organization’s activities opposing the Abe Cabinet move to allow Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense. “Some criticize the JFBA for being involved in political issues. But as a body of lawyers having a duty to protect human rights, we have responsibility for defending constitutionalism as well as the pacifism of the Japanese Constitution,” he said.
Expressing his respect for the efforts by the lawyers’ organization, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo pointed out some dangerous features of the bills. “This is an attempt to enact the worst-ever legislation introduced in post-war Japan. The JCP will work to scrap the bills in the Diet and promote a nationwide campaign opposing the war legislation,” he said.
On the previous day, the JFBA President issued a statement condemning the proposed bills as unconstitutional as well as violating people’s right to a peaceful existence.
JCP Vice Chair Koike Akira noted that the JFBA statement corresponds to the JCP view on the legislation. He said that he will refer to the statement in preparation for the upcoming Diet deliberations.
JCP Secretariat Head Yamashita Yoshiki stressed that the JFBA’s role is very significant in arousing public opposition to the legislation. He called for uniting in efforts to stop the bills from becoming law.
The JCP and the JFBA also agreed to collaborate to reintroduce the scholarship program providing grants to legal trainees, which was forcibly abolished in 2011.
Past related articles:
> Yamashita: JCP will increase its efforts to scrap war legislation-related bills [May 12, 2015]
> 30,000 citizens speak out against gov’t move to destroy pacifist Constitution [May 4, 2015]
JFBA President Murakoshi Susumu explained about his organization’s activities opposing the Abe Cabinet move to allow Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense. “Some criticize the JFBA for being involved in political issues. But as a body of lawyers having a duty to protect human rights, we have responsibility for defending constitutionalism as well as the pacifism of the Japanese Constitution,” he said.
Expressing his respect for the efforts by the lawyers’ organization, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo pointed out some dangerous features of the bills. “This is an attempt to enact the worst-ever legislation introduced in post-war Japan. The JCP will work to scrap the bills in the Diet and promote a nationwide campaign opposing the war legislation,” he said.
On the previous day, the JFBA President issued a statement condemning the proposed bills as unconstitutional as well as violating people’s right to a peaceful existence.
JCP Vice Chair Koike Akira noted that the JFBA statement corresponds to the JCP view on the legislation. He said that he will refer to the statement in preparation for the upcoming Diet deliberations.
JCP Secretariat Head Yamashita Yoshiki stressed that the JFBA’s role is very significant in arousing public opposition to the legislation. He called for uniting in efforts to stop the bills from becoming law.
The JCP and the JFBA also agreed to collaborate to reintroduce the scholarship program providing grants to legal trainees, which was forcibly abolished in 2011.
Past related articles:
> Yamashita: JCP will increase its efforts to scrap war legislation-related bills [May 12, 2015]
> 30,000 citizens speak out against gov’t move to destroy pacifist Constitution [May 4, 2015]
